Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applicants to the waste management scheme who have confirmed their intention to proceed with construction under the scheme; his views on whether that take up of the scheme is not as envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25617/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Under the Scheme, grant-aid is available at a standard grant-rate of 60% (70% in the four Zone C counties) to farmers who complete investment works under the Scheme. As the Scheme formed part of the 2000-2006 National Development Plan, it had to close for applications at the end of 2006.

48,580 applications were received from farmers under the Scheme by the closing date and, to date, 41,750 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. Farmers are required to notify the Department when they are commencing work under the Scheme and, to date, about 17,000 farmers have indicated to the Department that they have commenced but not yet completed works. The remaining farmers have either already completed and have been paid, or have not yet commenced work under the Scheme. The rate of commencement is in line with previous on-farm investment schemes operated by my Department.

Under the terms of the Scheme, farmers must complete the investment works concerned and submit a payment claim to my Department by the end of this year. A notice has recently been sent to all farmers holding an approval to commence work under the Scheme reminding them of the importance of compliance with this deadline.